Happy Holidays to all!

It was Roses for USC on January 1, 2008! Congratulations to our Trojan football team for its sixth consecutive Pac-10 title…and its sixth straight BCS appearance. The victory over the Illinois in the Rose Bowl was a wonderful start to 2008.

One of the pilots who performed the flyby for the USC-UCLA football game was Captain Michael McCoy, a USC ROTC alumnus stationed in Oklahoma.  Captain McCoy is our own Town and Gown adopted ROTC alum.  Wow!  The USC ROTC alumni serving our country in the United States, the Middle East, and other places around the world have expressed their desire to stay connected with Trojan Family news.  If you are interested in contacting them, please respond to me via lindycar@aol.com for their E addresses.

Our annual December Holiday luncheon was a sell-out success with 485 members and friends in attendance.  For the first time, our guests were entertained by The Dickens & Company Christmas Carolers, an ensemble that performs festive music for all occasions.  Toys and donations were collected to support the LA County/USC Medical Center annual holiday charity program, CARES PROJECT. 

Our Scholarship Vice Presidents, Scholarship Finance Officer, Scholarship Secretary and committee members perform admirably throughout the year working on our multifaceted scholarship program.  The interview process for the 2008-2009 prospective incoming freshmen, continuing and graduate students will begin in January.  One of the highlights of being a committee member is the opportunity to interview these bright and accomplished young men and women.  It truly is a rewarding experience to become acquainted with our future leaders.

For the 2007-2008 year, the scholarship committee awarded $1,135,000 to 305 undergraduate and graduate students in every school/department on the University Park and Health Science Campuses.  This includes six Competitive scholarships of $10,000 each for four years of undergraduate studies beginning in the freshmen year.

Our Town and Gown scholar recipients are special.  Please join us in honoring them by attending our annual scholarship luncheon to be held on Tuesday, February 5, 2008.  Mr. Dan Bane, CEO of Trader Joe’s, is the motivational guest speaker.

Be inspired in the beauty of giving back.  There are many avenues for giving that will, in turn, benefit our USC students and enhance our Town and Gown beautification projects.  Attend the luncheons; support our annual benefit; donate by acknowledging a memory, an honor or celebration; or, matching employee/corporation gifts; endowments; planned giving; and gifts-in-kind.  Your support is an inspiration to our organization.

Bless our troops.  Every day that you can wake up with freedom is a blessing.  In your daily thoughts and prayers, remember our United States men and women who are serving our country.

Enjoy a joyous holiday season with family and friends.

I look forward to seeing you at our January 8, 2008 luncheon meeting.

All my best,